I came across this photo
and had to share it. Here is the back story to it...

My wife Carrie knows a gentleman
named David Klitzky. David grew up in Skokie and is proud to say he and his buddies kept the Skokie Police busy with
their shenanigans. One day, David and his friends came up with an idea for a series of mock photos and some of them
included the Skokie Police Department. They dressed as greasers inspired by the movie West Side Story. They arranged
it with a couple of police officers to stage a mock photo of them being escorted to court for the umpteenth time, the court
room being above the police department at that time. David believes the photo was from 1963. David doesn't remember
the name of the police officer in the photo, perhaps someone out there in retirement land will.

I had been dispatched to a traffic dispute in the parking lot of Skokie Valley Hospital.. A couple on a motorcycle and
the driver of a car were coming near to blows over an incident that happened. I was trying to get them calmed down to
no avail. Terry arrived as my backup and saw that the verbal altercation may soon become physical. He grabbed
me by the shoulders and planted a big kiss on my cheek. All of a sudden the people who had been arguing were just standing
there with their mouths hanging open in disbelief of what they had just seen. Terry just smiles and told them, "Now that we
have your attention, just get on and in your vehicles and get out of here." Not another word was said and the people
just drove off shaking their heads. Needless to say, I was just as shocked as they were, but if it worked, what the
hell.

Ron Baran

Former Desiree Restaurant Will Meet Wrecking Ball

After numerous plans to revitalize it over the years failed, and because it's deteriorating,
the village of Skokie will raze it.

In its heydey, the Desiree Restaurant had a cheerful red wraparound sign. However, it has sat
vacant for years, defying attempts to revive it. Patch file photo.

Though many Skokie residents have fond memories of the former Desiree
Restaurant, its building has sat vacant for years and given a forlorn look to one of the village's most prominent intersections.

No
more. The Skokie village board on Monday okayed a plan to buy the building for $1.175 million, demolish it and interest
a developer in building a new development on the site.